The 25 Best Ever Episodes of The Simpsons

It’s the greatest show on Earth!

The Simpsons… What could I possibly say that you wouldn’t already know about this great show?

This dysfunctional family has been on our screens since 1987. They started out as shorts on The Tracy Ullman Show and they eventually got their very own show in December 1989.

It’s one of the most watched programs in the entire world and translated into many different languages. It has been called ’20th Century’s Best Show’ by Time magazine, won dozens of awards and even has its own movie and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

I’ve grown up most of my life with the show regularly on the screen. Back in the early 90’s I had Bart Simpson on my t-shirt, Homer Simpson poster on my wall, a copy of ‘Do the Bartman‘ and still to this day collect mugs with Homer on them.

My parents even watch it, and my son who is just 2-years old loves Homer! I never get bored with seeing it. Here in the UK it is shown multiple times a day on Sky 1 and Channel 4, so it is always there for me to watch like comforting background television. I do get withdrawal symptoms if I don’t see it for few days.

I have to admit that the quality has slightly gone downhill, and episodes made after 1999 could have been a lot better, but the seasons throughout the 90’s up to Season 10 are such, such classics. This post has been in draft for 12 months and It was so hard to just cut this list down to just 25. There was a lot of cuts and swaps but I finally did it. Most of the episodes are from Seasons 3 to 9 (1991 – 1998 – the golden years), which just shows how good the writing and quality was back then.

For years I had wanted to compile this list and finally I have gotten around to it. Obviously other people will not agree with my choices, but here goes… The 25 Best Ever Episodes of The Simpsons according to me.

25. Flaming Moe’s

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Season: 3

Episode: 45 (8F08)

First Aired: 21/11/1991

Writer: Robert Cohen

Director: Rich Moore and Alan Smart

Flaming Moe’s was the first ever episode that I watched. I saw it when it premiered in the UK in 1991. I just fell in love with the whole series. I realised that the show wasn’t just aimed at children. It had adult jokes in there and it was good family friendly TV. I have to admit, that if my first episode would have been any from the first season I don’t think I would have been hooked so quickly.

Synopsis

Looking to escape the antics of the girls at Lisa’s slumber party, Homer heads to Moe’s Tavern, where he finds the bartender despondent because business is so bad, Homer shows him a new drink. The “Flaming Homer” is a concoction of various liquors mixed with Krusty’s Kough Syrup that is then set ablaze. An Instant hit, the drink attracts business. More renames the beverage the “Flaming Moe” and takes all the credit. The Flaming Moe revitalises business, turning Moe’s Tavern into the hottest spot in Springfield, and causing Homer’s and Moe’s relationship to splinter.

Memorable Quotes

Moe – “Whoa! Homer, it’s like there’s a party in my mouth and everyone is invited”

Moe – “He may have come up with the recipe, but I came up with idea of charging $6.95 for it”

The knockoffs at Flaming Moe’s that spring up overnight include Flaming Meaux, Flaming Moe’s pushcart and Famous Moe’s

Couchgag

Two thieves steal the couch.

Chalkboard

“Underwear should be worn on the inside”

Movie Influence

Cheers

Guest Voices

Aerosmith as themselves

24. Radio Bart

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Season: 3

Episode: 48 (8F11)

First Aired: 09/01/1992

Writer: John Vitti

Director: Carlos Baeza

Synopsis

For his birthday, Homer gives Bart a Superstar Celebrity Microphone that transmits sound through an AM radio. At first, Bart is unimpressed with the gift, but after a while he realises the present has possibilities. As a prank , he tosses a small radio down a well in middle of the town and pretends to be “Timmy O’Toole” and tricks the town into thinking he is trapped down the well.

Memorable Quotes

Kent Brockman – “The circumference of the well is 34 inches. So, unfortunately, not one of member of our city’s police force is slender enough to rescue the boy”

Homer – “That Timmy is a real hero!”

Lisa – “How do you mean, Dad?”

Homer – “Well he fell down a well, and (pause)… he can’t get out!

Lisa – “How does that make him a hero?”

Homer – “Well, that’s more than you did!”

Things You May have Missed

At the well a stall vender sells “I survived Timmy O’Toole’s Getting Trapped in a Well” t-shirts

Lisa reads the magazine Non-Threatening Boys which she has read before in episode “Bart Gets an F”

Couchgag

The family bounces up and down on the couch.

Chalkboard

“I will not carve gods”

Guest Voices

Sting as himself

23. Mr. Plow

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Season: 4

Episode: 68 (9F07)

First Aired: 19/11/1992

Writer: John Vitti

Director: Jim Reardon

Synopsis

Driving home from Moe’s Tavern in the middle of a snowstorm, Homer accidentally crashes into their car parked in the driveway, totalling both Simpson vehicles. He takes Bart and Lisa with him to the Springfield Auto Show to find a new car and buys a super-deluxe snowplow instead. He sets himself up in business as “Mr. Plow”. Things go well for Homer until Barney starts his own snowplow business (“The Plow King”), competing with Homer, and steals all of Homer’s customers.

Memorable Quotes

Homer – “If you’re gonna get mad at me every time I do something stupid, then I guess I’ll just have to stop doing stupid things”

Salesman – “She’ll go 300 hectares on a single tank of kerosene”

Homer – “What country is this car from?”

Salesman – “It no longer exists

Things You May have Missed

Songs on Captain McCallister’s album include “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, “Blow the Man Down” and “In the Navy”

The ad agency that Homer goes to is McMahon and Tate which is the ad firm of Darren Stevens on the TV show Bewitched.

Couchgag

The Simpsons run in the living room and sit on a single chair.

Chalkboard

“A burp is not an answer”

Movie Influence

The scene where Bart is attacked by snowballs parodies The Godfather and the bridge scenes parodies The Sorcerer.

Guest Voices

Featuring Phil Hartman as Troy McClure, Linda Ronstadt and Adam West as themselves.

Fact: The Mr. Plow commercial which not even Homer was sure whether or not was promoting his business was based on a Russian perfume commercial the writers saw. The producers parodied the commercial without permission, however, due to troubles with international relations between the United States and Russia, as of 2009 the producers of the perfume commercial still have been unsuccessful at seeking litigation against The Simpsons TV show.

22. Homers Phobia

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Season: 8

Episode: 168 (4F11)

First Aired: 16/02/1997

Writer: Ron Hauge

Director: Mike B. Anderson

Synopsis

After one of Bart’s stunts using the dryer ignites the houses gas main, the Simpsons are left with a $900 bill from the Springfield Gas Company. They try to sell an old Civil War family heirloom at a collectibles store called Cockamamie’s to pay for the repair only discover the heirloom is actually worthless liquor bottle, but they actually strike up a relationship with the store owner, John who is gay much to Homer’s dislike.

Memorable Quotes

Bart – “Something about a bunch of guys alone together in the woods… seems kinda gay.”

Things You May have Missed

A sign for the beer ‘Fudd’ hangs in Johns store. This beer was first introduced in episode “Colonel Homer”

When the character John is introduced a pink flamingo is lying against the wall. Pink Flamingo is a title of a John Walters film.

One of the stores in the mall is called One Size Fits All Lingerie.

Couchgag

Someone tries to download the family from America Onlink, but finding it too slow, repeatedly clicks “exit” in frustration.

Guest Voices

John Walters as John

21. Bart of Darkness

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Season: 6

Episode: 104 (1F22)

First Aired: 04/09/1994

Writer: Dan McGrath

Director: Jim Reardon

Synopsis

The Simpsons get a swimming pool and while showing off Bart breaks his leg and ends up spending the Summer at his bedroom window, spying on the neighbors with a telescope. Bart finds the view boring until he thinks he sees Ned Flanders murdering his wife. Did this really happen?